Pike Township

Pike Township

PIKE township occupies the southwest corner of the county. It is bounded on the west by Licking county and on the south by Muskingum. Washington township touches it oil the east and Perry township on the north. The township was organized in August, 1818, the election for the first officers being held in the house of James Bryan. This and Perry are the only two townships in the county that consist wholly of congress land. It was surveyed in the year 1803, by John Matthews.'

The surface is rolling and hilly throughout. It is nearly all tillable, the prevailing soil being a limestone clay._ Some sandy grounds are found, however, principally in the western part of the township. The streams are small and unimportant. The largest is Tomica creek, which enters from Licking county, flows southeasterly about a mile and then returns to Licking county. Winding Fork enters the stream, flowing from the northeast. Brushy run rises near the northern line of the township, close to West Carlisle and flows almost directly south through the entire township. West of this, is Five Mile run, so, named from its length ; it rises near the center of the township and pursues a southwesterly course. Little tributaries to these streams make up the remaining streams of the township. A heavy timber growth was universal, except in one locality. Along the narrow valley of Brushy run, in sections 12 and 19, was a strip of land covered oitly with saplings when the fli-st settlers entered the township. The opinion among the early settlers regarding it, was that a violent hurricane had spent its force here and uprooted all the large timber growing upon the tract. The little elevations and dejoressions which such a catastrophe would produce, were numerously scattered through this region.

Daniel Ashcraft was the first settler in the township, settling upon the southwest quarter of section 22 in 1808. fie was from the vicinity of Cheat river, Pennsylvania, and moved West with his son-in-law, Thomas McKee. The journey was made as far as Zanesville by water. Mr. Ascraft and McKee constructed a large boat about twenty by forty feet in size, freighted it with their families, furniture, teams, iron, etc., and launched it on Cheat river, whence it proceeded safely down the Ohio to Marietta. It was too unwieldy an affair to get up to Zanesville, and Mr. Ashcraft came to that place and engaged three keel-boats to bring up his goods. The teams were brought up by land. From Zanesville he proceeded on the road leading west to the neighborhood of Frazersburg, and leaving his heaviest goods there, packed the most necessary articles on his horses through the wilderness, to his future home. A bark camp was hastily constructed and served as a temporary place of shelter. Mr. Ashcraft was an excellent mechanic, and could turn his hand to almost anything. He had a large family, and his boys, Jonathan, Jacob, Jesse, Ehjah and Daniel, were of great service in clearing up the land. He brought over his blacksmith tools as soon as he arrived, and soon had a little, log-cabin built which he occupied several years, then built a larger hewed-log house, a very palace in those days. A whip-saw was brought from Zanesville to prepare the necessary lumber for this building. In connection with his blacksmithing, he carried on a cooper-shop, and soon had a tannery also started on his place. When the Newark road was opened, and the country round about began to be peopled with emigrants, . he provided entertainment at his house for those who required it, a meal thus costing the stranger twelve and a half cents, and lodging six and a quarter cents. While the country upon all sides

Jonathan Ashcraft, still surviving at this writing, in his ninetieth year, turned the first furrow of ground in the township with his rude plow. Seeds for an apple and peach orchard were planted at once, and in a few years fruit wag had in abundance. Mr. Ashcraft served on the frontier for a few months in the war of 1812, in a company commanded by Captain Wilson, of Licking county. He continued to reside in this township, engaged in the quiet pursuits of farm life, till he died at a good old age. Thomas McKee, his son-in-law, settled in the vicinity of Mt. Vernon, but years afterward moved to this county.

Very soon after the arrival of Ashcraft, Payne Clark entered the township. He came from Fauquier county, Virginia, and settled upon the southeast quarter of section 12. He was a veritable Nimrod at the chase, and, gun in hand, spent much time in the game-abounding forest. He was also a practical surveyor, and in this capacity was of great service to his neighbors. About 1832 he removed to Greene county, Indiana.

Thomas Hardesty came about 1812, and entered the southwest quarter of section 19. He was from Maryland, and spent his youth upon the sea, where he acquired the hardiness and recklessness of a sailor. In 1811 he emigrated with his brother, Edmund Hardesty, to Washington township. He remained there only a year or two, and came to this township. He remained a resident of the township for a number of years, but never became skilled in the use of his gun. A favorite occupation was the making of maple sugar. He eventually removed to Greene county, Indiana.

It was not until 1814 that settlers began to arrive in any number. In that year Pierce Noland came to the township, and entered the northwest quarter of section 11. He was originally from the Virginia banks of the Potomac, and came to Coshocton county in 1811, living for three years nine miles up the Tuscarawas river from Coshocton, at the mouth of White Eyes creek. In his early days he was a traveling merchant, in Virginia, but since he became a resident of this county he followed farming ex-

It was about this year that James and John Bryan, two brothers, settled here. As the name indicates, they were Irish. John was born in Ireland and James on the briny ocean, as his parents were on their way to the new country. The two boys entered the northwest quarter of section 12. James was a noted character in his day, was perhaps best known as the local poet of this community. He possessed an abundance of native Irish wit and was an inveterate rhymer. His caustic verses were an ever-availing weapon against those who incurred his enmity, and were always highly appreciated by those at whom they were not aimed. He was reared a Catholic, but did not hold firm allegiance to any church. He was as fond of whisky as he was of versifying. He was by trade a molder, and during winter was often employed at Moore's furnace, a few miles east of Newark. He finally removed to Indianola, Iowa, where he died.

David Moore, a cooper by trade, from near Hagerstown, Maryland, and James Thompson, from near Cumberland, Maryland, came out in 1814, and entered the southwest quarter of section 12. Mr. Thompson spent the remainder of his life in the township, but Mr. Moore sold his property and removed to Vinton county.

David Knowles, about 1813, settled in the east- -ern part of section 19. William Clark, a Virginian, about 1816, entered and settled upon the .southwest quarter of section 10. About the same time, Joseph Cheney, from Maryland, settled upon the southeast quarter of section 22. About 1814, . Joshua Lemart, from Fauquier county, Virginia, .settled upon the northeast quarter of section 12. He had lived for a short time previous in Washington township. He died in Muskingum county. Adam Gault, from Pennsylvania, came in about 1816, settling upon the southeast quarter of section 2. He died in 1846.

Eli Seward moved with his family in the fall of 1815 from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, to the Cass section, in the northern part of Muskingum county, remained there a year, and in February, 1817, settled upon a quarter section in the western part of this township. In the spring -of 1816 his brother, Ebenezer Seward, James

1816 to the northwest quarter of section 19. He erected a blacksmith shop here and divided his attention between the shop and field. Years after he removed to Hardin county. Spencer Lake emigrated about the same time from Fauquier county, Virginia, and remained a farmer of this township the rest of his life. William Henderson, a blacksmith and afterward a dealer in stock, came about 1816 from Belmont county. About

1817 Samuel Perkins, from Pennsylvania, entered the tract upon which West Carlisle is now situated. Augustine White came in 1818 from Virginia. Alexander Graham, also from Pennsylvania, came to the township in 1819; he died in July, 1844. About this time John Eine, a Marylander, whp had served 'in the war of 1812,_moved in.

The tax duplicate for 1821 shqws the following additional names as resident property-holders. As land did not become taxable till after it had been entered five years, some, if not all, of these settlers were probably here as early as 1816: George Crawford, the southeast quarter of section 23, and east half of section 21; Francis Crawford, the northeast quarter of section 24; Richard Goodwin, the north part of the southeast quarter of section 6; John McNabb, the northwest quarter of section 2; John Perdew, the northeastquarter of section 1; Kimble Rakestraw, a Virginian, the northwest quarter of section 17; John Robinson, also a Virginian, the southeast quarter of section 15; Jesse Rine, brother to John Rine, from Frederick county, Maryland, the south part of the southeast quarter of section 5; Asa B. Snyder, the northeast quarter of section 9; William Wright, from Virginia, a local surveyor, and by trade a wheel-wright, the northeast quarter of section 22.

The only vestige of Indian habitation which existed when the early settlers came to the township, was a rickety shanty, which stood near the mouth of Winding Fork, and was known as Slab Camp. It was, a three-sided little hut, one end being entirely open, and about ten by twelve feet in size. It was frequently occupied by hunw ters, after the Indians had abandoned it, as a .sleeping place, and whenever so used, a fire must be built across the open end, to prevent the entrance of wild animals.

Wild game was abundant for a number of years, and many are the bear stories which the few remaining pioneers tell of the times which are now gone forever. There is room for only one. Eichard Meek, who settled early on the northwest quarter of section 22, went visiting one day with his wife, leaving Samuel, scarcely fifteen years old, and his younger sisters at home. They amused themselves during their parents' absence by springing saplings in the woods. After a while Sam thought he espied a bear behind a fallen log. He told the little girls to watch the place while he ran to the house for his father's gun. He soon returned with the weapon, which was so heavy he could scarcely itj and lying down on the ground, he laid the cumbersome weapon across a log, took delib- -erate aim, and fired. The ball sped true to the mark, and the bear fell dead. Eunning up to it, he drew out a butcher knife and stabbed it in old hunter fashion; then went to the stable for horses and sled, and by dint of perseverance managed to get the bear on the sled and home just as his parents returned. It was an unusually large animal, weighing more than 600 pounds.

Several small distilleries were operated in this -township in early times to supply the local demand for whisky. James and George Crawford, 1818, started one and run it for a number of years. Another one was owned by Thomas and John Crawford, of another family. Payne Clark, Samuel Hardesty and Newman Smith were also manufacturers of the article on a small scale. Joshua Lemart began the business at an «arly day and continued it for many years. He built a little horse-mill for the purpose of grinding his mashes, but it was soon brought into requisition by his neighbors for grinding their corn. Particularly was this so during a dry season, when the mills on the small streams must suspend operations for lack of power, and the settlers were obliged to take their grists up to Owl creek in Knox county, or down to Zanesville, where, from the throng of customers, they often had to wait several days before their wants could be attended to. Lemart's horse-mill was then kept going night and day, turning out a course grade of corn-meal which the settlers labored hard to obtain.

John Taylor built a saw-mill on Winding Fork about 1818. In 1823, he sold it to Albert Seward - still living in Bethlehem township - who had just attained his majority. In 1830, Mr. Seward disposed of it to James Van Winkle, and, a short time afterward, Ebenezer Seward obtained possession of it. He sold it to Mr. Pease, of Dresden, who proposed removing it further down the stream and adding a grist-mill; but he failed in business before carrying out the project, and the property reverted to Mr. Seward. He resold it to Jesse Eyan, and the mill soon after went down.

A saw-mill was built on Tomica creek, by Frederick Zellers, in 1833, and the next year a flour-mill was added. It is still in operation, known as the Gault mill. It has two run of buhrs, a good stone dam, and produces an excellent grade of flour.

Little is known of the early schools of the township. Like in all other pioneer settlements, they were irregularly held, meagerly attended, and very inefficient, as compared with the schools of the present day. A school-cabin was built about 1824 on the hill south of Hiram Noland's house, on the southeast quarter of section 12. William Wright was the first teacher in this building. He was a learned teacher, proficient in Latin, it is said, and a thorough mathematician. He remained in charge of the school for a number of years. Later, a school-house was built just south of West Carlisle, where Mr. Timberlick, afterward cashier of the Owl Creek bank of Mt. Vernon, taught the first elements.

There are four churches in the township; three, a Methodist, a Presbyterian and a Lutheran, in West Carlisle, and one about two miles south of this village, near the center of section 12. The latter is a " People's " church, or more commonly called the " Broomstick church." It is the property of no denomination, built nearly forty years ago by the people in this neighborhood, regardless of their church affinities, upon land donated by Hiram Noland. All denominations are permitted to worship here at any time which does not interfere with previous appointments, and several societies of different sects have used the building as their meeting house. Among them was a congregation of Christians, which at one time possessed considerable strength. Nathaniel Emery, Lewis Cheney and many persons from a distance were members. At first preaching was conducted at Mr. Emery's barn, then -transferred to the church. There have been no services now for ten years or more. The Disciples held services here for a while. Samuel Cheney was a leading member. The congregation included a large number living in Muskingum county. Eev. White was their last minister. The Presbyterians and Methodist Episcopals hold occasional services. The Methodist Protestants have regular meetings, conducted at present by Eev. "William Sampson. This society was organized about 1845, and now has about fifty members. A union Sunday-school is held here.

Of the three churches in West Carlisle, the Presbyterian is probably the oldest. It was incorporated by the legislature in 1823. The incorporators were James McKee, John Lyons, James Gault, James Patten and William Brown. Eev. James Cunningham, of Utica, Licking county, had been preaching occasionally in the neighborhood for some time and continued to preach for the church until 1834. Eev. Jacob Wolf then served the church for about a year, and after he left Mr. Cunningham again supplied the congregation for a year or two. In 1838 and 1839 the church was supplied by Eev. Enoch Bouton and Eev. Nathaniel Conkling. Eev. J. Matthews seems to have been the first pastor, installed November 11, 1840. Until 1846 he gave it half his time and then the whole time until 1853. During his time the church building still in use was erected. In 1853 C. C. Bomberger was ordained and installed pastor. During the war the congregation was greatly distracted on political issues, and finally divided, Mr. Bomberger and a portion of the congregation withdrawing and putting themselves under the Presbytery of Louisville and afterwards under the care of the Presbytery of Central Ohio in connection with the Synod of Kentucky. This congregation found a^ .house of worship in the "People's church" twomiles below the village. In the old church after several years of embarrassment, with only occasional supplies, John Foy was ordained and installed in 1870. During his pastorate the church rallied to a considerable extent and the house of worship was repaired and improved at an expense almost equal to its original cost. Mr. Foy removed in 1874 to Martinsburg and tlie church has since been supplied by Eevs. S. Mehafiey, W. D. Wallace, and W. J. Fulton and J. P. Safford. In November, 1880, the two divisions of the church were harmonized and re-united under Mr. Safibrd's pastorate. At its organization the number of members was twenty-four; in 1860 there were eighty-six ; at present it exceeds one hundred. The first elders were Thomas McKee, James Crawford and Adam Gault. Subsequently the following have served : A. H. Lyons, Christopher Crothers, John Lyons, James McKee, Robert Crouch, William Harvey, D. D. Johnson, Lewis Bennett, Thomas McKee, John McKee, John Graham and George McKee. The last three constitute the session at this time.

The Methodist Episcopal congregation at West Carlisle erected its first house of worship in 1832 or 1833. It was a frame building, and occupied the site of the present church, which was built about 1859. The date of the church organizatioik is unknown. It was some time before the erection of the first church. Among the earlier members were William Moffat, John Fulks, James- Fulks and William Henderson. Eev. Thomas Dunn was an early minister. The membership is now about sixty. Eev. A. A. McCuUough is the pastor. A Sunday-school has been connected the church for a great number of years, and is in excellent working condition. The school is held through the whole year.

The Evangelical Lutheran church was organized about 1835. The first minister was Jacob Seidle. Rev. S. Kammerer had previously held services in the neighborhood. The leading early members were Henry Billman, Henry Divan, George Sossaman, Henry Keifer and Solomon

Exline. The present frame church was built a few years ago, at a cost of about $1,200. The former building was smaller, and built soon after the church was organized. The church had a large following at first, but when the Winding Fork church was organized many members withdrew to unite with it, and );he church was left comparatively weak. By removals the membership has become still smaller, and is now quite limited. Kev. John Booker is the pastor.

West Carlisle, the only village in the township, lies a half mile from the northern line, near the center of section 2. It is one of the oldest villages in the county, having been laid out in August, 1817. The proprietors were John Perkins and John McNabb. Perkins owned the southwest quarter of section 2, and McNabb the northwest quarter of the same section. The town was laid out on the line between the two quarter sections. The village was probably named by Perkins, who is said to have been from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in honor of his old home. The original plat included thirty-four lots, but during the same year, 1817, each of the proprietors made a small addition to the town. Further additions were made in 1831, by William Henderson, William Brown and Harmon Anderson.

The leading character in the early history of West Carlisle was WilMam Brown. He was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and ^pent his youth in the service of a merchant in St. Clairsville. He came to West Carlisle about 1822, with a small stock of goods, and soon after formed a partnership with a gentleman in Zanesville, and greatly increased his stock. He remained a resident of the village until 1840, and during this time was closely identified with its best interests. "His parents were from Germany, spelling the name Braun. His wife was Scotch-Irish. By the combination of the virtues of the two races, the Browns won for themselves great consideration in their neighborhood, and, though starting in their wedded life with very little, amassed quite a respectable fortune. Mr. Brown was for many years a justice of the peace and postmaster, under Monroe, J. Q. Adams, Jackson and Van Buren, although he was a very decided Adams and Clay man. He was an excellent horseman, and skilled in the use of the rifle, and these things helped him greatly in the state of society found in his day in the region of West Carlisle, In public movements and proper sports he was never lacking, and was often recognized as a leader, and made the object of a good deal of 'backwoods homage,' and yet with all his activity in business and interest in the social life of the people, Mr. Brown is represented as having been a very earnest and faithful man in his religious duties, Family worship was on no excuse intermitted ; the Sabbath was sacredly regarded ; and when, as before and after a communion in the church, there was preaching, the store was shut, although he loved business, and avowed his intention to give himself steadily to it, and to make money for his family. His house was the minister's hold, and he was one of the most "active members of the Presbyterian church from its organization, contributing largely of his means to it. In 1840, he removed to Logansport, Indiana, and there died, March 4, 1859. One of the sons, William L. Brown, acting brigadier general of the Indiana infantry, was killed at the second battle of Bull Hun. Three sons, J. C, Hugh A., and Frederick T., became Presbyterian ministers.

Mr. Brown's was the first store. William Henderson was the first blacksmith. In 1833, there were two churches, three stores, one tavern, one physician, one tannery, two blacksmith shops, two cabinet-makers, two hatters, one wagon, maker, one carpenter, two shoemaker and two tailor Shops. The population then was 107. In 1880, it was 154.

A directory of the village, for 1881, would reveal the following : Dry goods, L. F. Cheney and J. W. Almack; grocery, L. P. White; wagon shop, M. Baird & Son ; saddlery, A. T. Pine ; two blacksmith shops,two shoe shops and one cabinet shop; carriage manufacturer, G. W. Cooper. This establishment gives employment to seven or eight workmen, and annually builds a large number of carriages and spring wagons. Drs. William Smith and James Edward are the resident physicians.

A Baptist church was built in the village about 1845. William and John Dunlap, William Wright and Robert Cochran were leading members. Rev. Waldron was the first minister.

The society grew rapidly for a few years and as rapidly declined. About 1850, the building was sold to William McFarland, who, with othersconverted it into an academy, under the management, at first, of Mr. Gilbert. It was afterward purchased by the school board and is still used as a village school-house. It contains two rooms, both of which are occupied.

Chapter Lxvi

TIVERTON township was so-called from a township in Newport count3', Rhode Island, a number of early settlers had emigrated. It was organized December 8, 1824, and then named Union. Previous to this time it had iormed a part of Richland township, which is ^till the name of the adjoining township in Holmes county. The name Union did not prove satisfactory to the citizens of the township, for in March, 1825, it was changed by the county commissioners to Tiverton.

Geographically, it lies in the northwest corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by Holmes county, on the east by Monroe township, the south by New Castle township and on the west by Union township, Knox county.

The Mohican river traverses the southwestern portion of the township, entering from Knox <5ounty and crossing into New Castle township. Its course is through a deep and narrow ravine, which affords but little bottom lands. The small run which enters the river in lot 16 of the military section has been designated Spoon river. The small stream, a little above this, entering the river on lot 28, is called Polly run. Charles Ryan, who in early times lived near its mouth, once prepared the timber for a cabin near its foanks, but for some inexplicable cause did not erect it. The hewed logs decayed on the site of the intended cabin, and the fact gave rise to this name. Wolf creek, in the northeast part of the township, flows northeasterly and enters Killbuck creek in Holmes county. In the southern part of the township is Dutch run, named from the preponderating German element in this vicinity. The tallest and most precipitous hills skirt the channel of the Mohican. The land is also rough and hilly in the northern and southern parts, but in the central and eastern portions, and likewise to some extent in the north, the ridge lands become rolling, and in places almost level. Sandstone is the prevailing surface rock, and the soil is principally clayey. The hills and valleys along the Mohican River were covered sixty years ago with a heavy growth of timber, comprising black oak, white oak, chestnut, beach, walnut, ash, elm, hickory, and indeed, almost without exception all kinds of forest growth indigenous to this climate. Large quantities of white pine timber were ratted, in early days, down the Mohican from the steep bluffs along the river. The greater portion of the township was wooded, but extensive regions in the eastern and northern parts were covered when the first settlers arrived, with an underbrush of oak, so slight that a wagon could easily override it. This has now grown to thrifty young oaks, twelve or fifteen inches in diameter.

The third section, or southwest quarter of the township, is a military section, surveyed into forty 100-acre lots by Alexander Holmes, in 1808. The remainder of the township is congress land, surveyed in 1803 by Silas Bent, Jr.

Traces of the aborigines are still discemable in one or two localities. On Mr. S. H. Draper's farm remains of a stone wall or embankment may be noticed extending across the top of the ridge which fronts on the Mohican valley. It is probably eight rods in length and at one tinie was three or more feet in height.

A circular earthen fortification, enclosing about three acres, stood on the northwest quarter of section 8, the old Borden place. On lot fifteen of the military section, near the Walhonding canal, was evidently a resort of the prehistoric race. Large quantities of flints, of all sizes and forms, stone axes, pestles', etc., have been found here. Near by was a circular depression in the ground, about two rods in diameter, which was filled with fragmentary bones of human skeletons, mingled with coals and ashes, the whole being covered with about two feet of earth. The skeletons did not seem, to be arranged in order, but, from appearances, the bodies had been tumbled into the excavation without any regard to order.

One of the nurseries of the famed Johnny Appleseed was located in Tiverton township. It stood near the north line of lot 86, section 3, a short distance from the Mohican river. Tradition saith that it was about one acre in extent, and that in this space Johnny had planted three bushels of apple seeds. While tending this young nursery, he lodged at the house of John Butler, about a mile from the nursery and in Knox county. This was before 1807. The earliest orchards in this vicinity were from this nursery. Isaac Draper had one on the northwest quarter of section 15, and many pioneers from Knox county also had resource here in providing themselves with early fruit trees. A single tree, the sole survivor of a once large orchard from this nursery, may still be seen on the farm of K. B. Cummings, lot 15, section 3. It measures about twelve feet in circumference and is much broken down. It blossoms every spring, but has not borne fruit for many years.

Several settlers had entered this township prior to the war of 1812, but it was not till about 1816 that a steady tide of emigration set in, which continued until all available land had been occupied. The earliest settlers were Virginians and New Englanders, the latter coming chiefly from the vicinity of Fall river, near the line between Massachusetts and Rhode Island, mostly from the Rhode Island side.

Isaac Draper was the first settler in the township, and for several years the only one. He was a Virginian, and in 1806 settled upon the northwest quarter of section 15, and soon after entered it. Mr. Draper remained a life-long resident of this plac6. He died and was buried in the township.

The next settler, of whom anything is known, was William Humphrey, who came to this township about 1812, from the vicinity of Fall river, Massachusetts. He was a brother to Squire Humphrey, a prominent pioneer of New Castle township, and owned lots 19, 20 and 29, of section 3. He brought his family and goods through the wilderness on a litter, made by strapping poles to two horses, placed one in front of the other. The cabin which he hastily put together for the shelter of his family, was without door, floor or chimney, and often at night wild-cats and coons would clamber over the roof and make night hideous with their squalling and screeching.

Mr. Humphrey emigrated to his western home in time to be here drafted for service in the frontier army. His cabin was some distance from other settlements, and it is said that while out in the woods one day, he was accosted by an officer, a stranger to him, come to summon the drafted men to service, who inquired of him the course to William Humphrey's cabin. Mr. Humphrey informed him and, suspecting his errand, passed further into the forest in the opposite direction. He saw no more of the officer and was not disturb any further. This is the nearest approach to early military service by the pioneers of this township, of which any knowledge is had. Mr. Humphrey purused a farmer's life and died and was buried upon the home place.

Thomas Bordon settled on seventy acres in the northwest quarter of section 8, which he had purchased from Isaac Draper, soon after the close of the war of 1812. He was from Rhode Island, and had led a life on the ocean wave. Farming was his occupation here until his death. For a time, however, he kept a tavern on liis home place.

Stephen and Isaac Thatcher, two brothers, came about the same time and from the same place that Bordon did. Stephen had been the captain of a sailing craft, and entered the northwest quarter of section 3. Isaac was a housejoiner by trade, and followed this occupation in connection with farming. He owned lot 39, of section 3. Both died and were buried in the township.

little leisure he could spare from clearing his land and raising crops was devoted to his trade. Mr. Hart at an early day made an attempt in the production of silk. A house for the silkworms was built, and a long row of mulberry trees plajited ; but the project failed. The house is still standing. The climate proved injurious to the health of his wife, and at her request he returned to Khode Island. The name of Tiverton for this township is said to have been suggested and urged by Mr. Hart until it was adopted.

John Hyatt, in 1817, emigrated from the south branch of the Potomac, Virginia, to the northwest quarter of section 7. He was a farmer, and raised a large family of children. The most of these have removed to other places. One of his sons, Matthew Hyatt, is at this writing still living in this township, and is one of its oldest residents.

John Conner, who was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, moved from Virginia to the northeast quarter of section 6, in 1818, where he followed farming up to the time of his death. His brother, James Conner, another early settler, moved to the west half of the northeast quarter of section 13. He afterward emigrated to Iowa, and there died.

Abram Simmons and his son-in-law, Lemuel Church, who was a shoemaker, removed about 1818, from Rhode Island to this township. Neither acquired much property, but both continued to live here the remainder of their lives.

Charles Ryan was an early settler, who located lot 28 of the third section. He was a singular character, fond" of hunting, careless about his affairs, and consequently always indebted to his neighbors. He rarely possessed much ready money, and during harvest and other busy seasons his services were in much demand "by his creditors. It was not unusual for him to promise to labor for five or six men on a day, and when the time arrived to spend it in hunting and disappoint them all. When questioned about this reprehensible conduct, his reply was that he did not wish to see his neighbors leave his presence feeling down-hearted, and that in consequence he

The above mentioned settlers include all the resident tax-payers of Tiverton township for 1822, as indicated by the tax duplicate for that year. Four years later, the following were additional tax-paying residents of the township, and as five years must intervene between the time land is entered and the time it becomes taxable, it is probable that the greater number of these had located in the township as early as 1820.

Levi Beaty emigrated from Virginia to this countj"^, and at first leased a tract of land from Mrs. Hull, of New Castle township. He soon after entered and removed to the east half of the southeast quarter of section 13.

Daniel Brenaman, in 1826, owned lot 28, section 3, the Ryan lot. George Baker, a Pennsylvanian, had purchased it from Mr. Ryan, and he and his son Peter successively lived here a few years, then removed to Knox county. Mr. Brenaman purchased it from Baker, but did not occupy the place for many years. He sold it and also removed to Knox county.

George Cummins, of Fauquier county, Virginia, emigrated to Licking county, Ohio, in 1815, and soon thereafter to Knox county. Some time later he came to this township, where he continued to live up to the time of his death. Of his three sons, Eli and Ludwell went west and Kidder B., now in his seventy-ninth year, still has possession of the old home place, lot 15 and a fraction of 16, section 8.

Henry Miller was left an orplian when a small child, and was reared to manhood in the State of Maryland. While yet a young man he came west, and worked from place to place until he accumulated means sufficient to enter the west half of the southeast quarter of section 13. He married, and spent the remainder of his life on this place.

John Winslow, in the spring of 1820, came to this township from near Fall River, Bristol county, Massachusetts. For a few years he engaged in "cropping" for Stephen Thatcher, then entered the west half of the southeast quarter of

Joseph Walker entered the southeast quarter of section 7. He was from Pennsylvania, a cooper by trade and pursued farming and coopering together. He remained a life-Jong citizen of the township.

George Titus at a very early day opened a blacksmith shop on the Cummings place. He remained only a few years and owned no real estate here.

It is notable that almost all the pioneer names of this township are still represented here. There has been no noticeable change in nationality since the first settlement, except that the southeastern portion of the township has been settled almost exclusively by Germans in small farms of from forty to eighty acres each. Many of them were laborers on the Walhonding canal and from their earnings saved sufficient to enter a small homestead.

The first school in the township was taught about 1816 by Mrs. Stephen Thatcher in a school cabin which had been built on Mr. Thatcher's place, lot 39. The school was small and not kept up very long. A few years later another was started on Joseph Walker's farm, southeast quarter of section 7. John Johnson, a young man from the Clear Pork, taught the school. Orin Lane, from Knox county, and Alexander Campbell succeeded him. The latter was an Irishman, proficient in the languages, and a strict disciplinarian. He received as wages twelve dollars per month. A log cabin was built in section 7 by the settlers in the vicinity, which for many years served the double purpose of school-house and church. "Pap" William Purdy, who was a Baptist, preached here. Many of the earliest settlers were Baptists in religious belief when they emigrated to this township and services were held with greater or less regularity from their date of settlement.

Tiverton Regular Baptist church, as now constituted, was organized in 1841. Of its early membership were James and Abram Workman, Cyrus and Hannah Hyatt, Hannah Workman and Solomon Conner and wife. Elders J. M. Winn and H. Sampson assisted in its formation. Until about 1850, the meetings were held in the school-house. A strong and capacious frame house of worship was then erected on the northeast quarter of section 6. It is capable of seating 500 people, and is still in service. In 1854, there were about fifty members and in 1860, over 100. Since then the number has decreased to about seventy. The ministers who have labored with this church as pastors are as follows: L. Gilbert, R. R. Whittaker, B. M, Lockhart, B. M. Morrison, A. W. Arnold and S. W. Frederick' Elder Hall is the present pastor. A Sundayschool of long continuance is still in active operation.

A Disciple church is situated almost a half mile north of Tiverton Center. The congregation is the strongest body of this denomination in the county, its present membership amounting to about 150. Rev. J. W. Finley has recently been elected pastor, succeeding John F. Rowe. The present church building is a handsome edifice, erected in 1876, at a cost of $2,000. It is thirty-four by forty-six feet in size, and is surmounted by tower and bell. Its windows are of stained glass, and the interior is wainscoted with walnut and ash. The building was dedicated in November, 1876, by Rev William Bowling, then of Kenton, Ohio. The old church stood on the opposite side of the road, and had been erected about forty years, serving as the house of worship until the present church was built. Lemuel Church and wife, John Bailey and wife, Beneely Purdy and wife and Matthew Hyatt and wife, were some of the earliest members. The society was organized more than forty years ago, the first services being held at the house of Lemuel Church.

with Samuel Stringfellow as iirst superintendent and a membership of about thirty-five. School has been held every summer since, and now has an average attendance of seventy-five.

Chestnut Eidge Baptist church was organized in the school-house west of 'the river in 1873, with about twenty members, among whom were John Spurgeon, Abraham Hyatt, Jeremiah and Alexander Harding and Jacob McClain. Soon after a church was built in Knox county and the society now properly belongs to that county.

In 1874 or 1875, a "Union Christian" society was organized in the same school-house with a small membership, and with Prank Cummings as pastor. Its endeavor to affiliate under one organization the beliefs of diverse sects proved unsuccessful, and in a few years the bonds of union were dissolved, and the membership resolved to its original component parts.

In the southeastern part of the township, on the northwest quarter of section 21, stands a German Reform Church. The society was organized about forty years ago by Rev. Baety. The principal original members were John Bauer, Philip Wagner, George Cly, John Rees, J. Craft, J. Shear and Frederick Fry. The early meetings were held in private houses. In 1840, a church was built at a cost of $300. The present frame structure was erected in 1867 at a cost of $1,200. Of the pastors of this church may be mentioned F.Hunche, who served nineteen years.; J. Goekler. three years; H. Wolf man, three years; J. Ludwig, three years, and J. Biery, the present pastor, six years. The membership is now about 100. A Sunday-school was organized about 1850. It now has a membership of about fifty, and is superintended by Lewis Fisher.

There is no village in this township. At the center of the township, known as Tiverton Center, is a store, a blacksmith shop and half a dozen houses. The store is owned by Ed. Day. Benjamin Purdy started the first store at this place, and those who followed him in mercantile business were George and Samuel Stringfellow, John Trimble, Thatcher & Newell, Newell & Brother, then Mr. Day. The postoffice called Yankee- Ridge is kept in the store. It is the only one in the township. The mail is bi-weekly, the officebeing on the route between Nashville and Walhonding.

In lots 39 and 40, east of the river, are a few dilapidated structures, most of them uninhabited,. which mark the site of a once flourishing little village. Rochester was laid out in January,. 1833, by Isaac Thatcher and Isaac Draper. The plat consisted of forty-four lots, and small additions were made in 1839 and in 1842, by Mr. Thatcher. Messrs. Thatcher & Draper had built a saw and grist-mill here before the town was laid out. A dam had been built across the Mohican, and three run of buhrs were operated in the grist-mill. It remained in their possession eight or ten years, and the subsequent owners have been Thatcher & Lambaugh (Henry), Thatcher & Greer (John), John Greer, Silas & Mark Greer, William Conner, and George Jordon, who resold to Mr. Conner. It remained in his possession until his death, about three years ago, and soon after the mill was burned. It has not been rebuilt, but a little saw-mill has been erected on the site.

William Critchfield built the first house in the plat. It was a small, rude, log affair, but he soon, after erected a frame building and kept tavern in it. S. H. Draper sold the first goods here, beginning about 1835, and continued five or six years. There have since been as many as three stores in operation at one time. The construction of the Walhonding canal gave an impetus to the little village, which presaged a prosperous future, but the failure to extend the canal militated against much commercial. glory and eminence. The terminus of the canal is about a mile below Rochester. A dam is here constructed across the river, and the slack-water navagation as far as Rochester made practicable.

Soon after the canal was finished, a large warehouse was built by Isaac Thatcher and James Clement. A large amount of grain was handled here for a few years, but from some unknown caiise the business was permitted to decline.

Conner afterward kept the office in turn. It was then held by Henry Borden about two and onehalf miles north of Rochester, and a year later, in 1861, it was removed to the Center.

The population of Eochester, in 1840, was 111. This was before the completion of the canal. At one time there were here two hotels, three stores, two blacksmith shops, one mill, one ware house, one tannery, a wagon maker, a cabinet maker and a tailor, but none of these now remain. The village has almost passed the period of decadence and will soon pass into oblivion. The Cleveland and Mt. Vernon railroad, which is only four miles north, has attracted to the villages on its route the trade in this vicinity.

A small saw mill was operated for a few years, in early times on Polly run by William Smith. Bradford Borden, son of Thomas Borden, about 1837 opened a little distillery on his father's place, but continued its operation for a few years only.

Source changes here: from History of Coshocton County, Ohio;, by Hill, Norman Newell, Jr., [from Old Catalog] Comp, published 1881; 3,977 words in this source stream.

Pike Township

PIKE township occupies the southwest corner of the county. It is bounded on the west by Licking county and on the south by Muskingum. Washington township touches it on the east and Perry township on the north. The township was organized in August, 1818, the election for the first officers being held in the house of James Bryan. This and Perry are the only two townshijis in the county that consist wholly of congress land. It was surveyed in the year 1803, by John Matthews.

The surface is rolling and hilly throughout. It is nearly all tillable, the prevailing soil being a limestone clay. Some sandy grounds are found, however, principally in the western part of the township. The streams are small and unimportant. The largest is Tomica creek, which enters from Licking county, flows southeasterly about a mile and then returns to Licking county. Winding Fork enters the stream, flowing from the northeast. Brushy run rises near the northern line of the township, close to West Carlisle and flows almost directly south through the entire township. West of this is Five Mile run, so named from its length ; it rises near the center of the township and pursues a southwesterly course. Little tributaries to these streams make up the remaining streams of the township. A heavy tinAer growth was universal, except in one locality. Along the narrow valley of Brushy run, in sections 12 and 19, was a strip of land covered only with sn^ilings when the first settlers entered the township. The opinicjn among the early settlers regarding it, wius that a violent hurricane had spent its force here and uprooted all the large timber growing upon the tract. The little elevations and depressions which such a catastrophe would produce, were numerously scattered through this region.

Daniel Ashcraft was the first settler in the township, settling upon the southwest quarter of section 22 in 1808. He was from the vicinity of Cheat river, Pennsylvania, and moved West with his son-in-law, Thomas MoKee. The journey was made as far as Zanesville by water. Mr. Ascraft and McKee constructed a large boat about twenty by forty feet in size, freighted it with their families, furniture, teams, iron, etc., and launched it on Cheat river, whence it proceeded safely down the Ohio to Marietta. It was too unwieldy an affair to get up to Zanesville, and Mr. Ashcraft came to that place and engaged three keel-boats to bring up his goods. The teams were brought up by land. From Zanesville he proceeded on the road leading west to the neighborhood of Frazersburg, and leaving his heaviest goods there, packed the most necessary articles on his horses through the wilderness, to his future home. A bark camp was hastily constructed and served as a temporary place of shelter. Mr. Ashcraft was an excellent mechanic, and could turn his hand to almost anything. He had a large family, and his boys, Jonathan, Jacob, Jesse, Elijah and Daniel, were of great service in clearing up the land. He brought over his blacksmith tools as soon as he arrived, and soon had a little, log-cabin built which he occupied several years, then built a larger hewed-log house, a very palace in those days. A whip-saw was brought from Zanesville to prepare the necessary lumber for this building. In connection with his blacksmithing, he carried on a coojier-shop, and soon had a tannery also started on his place. When the Newark road was opened, and the country round about began to be peopled with emigrants, he provided entertainment at his house for those who required it, a meal thus costing the stranger twelve and a half cents, and lodging six and a quarter cents. While the coiuitry upon all sides

Jonathan Ashcraft, still surviving at this writing, in his ninetieth year, turned the first furrow of ground in the township with his rude plow. Seeds for an apple and peach orchard were planted at once, and in a few years fruit was had in abundance. Mr. Ashcraft served on the frontier for a few months in the war of 1812, in a company commanded by Captain Wilson, of Licking county. He continued to reside in this township, engaged in the quiet pursuits of farm life, till he died at a good old age. Tho)nas McKee, his son-in-law, settled in the vicinity of Mt. Vernon, but years afterward moved to this county.

Very soon after the arrival of Ashcraft, Payne Clark entered the township. He came from Fauquier county, Virginia, and settled upon the southeast quarter of section 12. He was a veritable Nimrod at the chase, and, gun in hand, spent much time in the game-abounding forest. He was also a practical surveyor, and in this capacity was of great service to his neighbors. About 1832 he removed to Greene county, Indiana.

Thomas Hardesty came about 1812, and entered the southwest quarter of section 19. He was from Maryland, and spent his youth upon the sea, where he acquired the hardiness and recklessness of a sailor. In 1811 he emigrated with his brother, Edmund Hardesty, to Washington township. He remained there only a year or two, and came to this township. He remained a resident of the township for a number of years, but never became skilled in the use of his gun. A favorite occupation was the making of maple sugar. He eventually removed to Greene county, Indiana.

It was not until 1814 that settlers began to arrive in any number. In that year Pierce Noland came to the township, and entered the northw-est quarter of section 11. He was originally from the Virginia banks of the Potomac, and came to Coshocton county in ISll, living for three years nine miles up the Tuscarawas river from Coshocton, at the mouth of 'NMiite Eyes creek. In his early days he was a traveling merchant, in Virginia, but since he became a resident of this county he followed farming ex-

It was about this year that James and John Bryan, two brothers, settled here. As the name indicates, they were Irish. John was born in Ireland and James on the briny ocean, as his parents were on their way to the new country. The two boys entered the northwest quarter of section 12. James was a noted character in his day, was perhaps best known as the local poet of this community. He possessed an abundance of native Irish wit and was an inveterate rhymer. His caustic verses were an ever-availing weapon against those who incurred his enmity, and were always highly appreciated by those at whom they were not aimed. He was reared a Catholic, but did not hold firm allegiance to any church. He -was as fond of whisky as he was of versifying. He was by trade a molder, and during winter was often employed at Moore's furnace, a few miles east of Newark. He finally removed to Indianola, Iowa, where he died.

1814, and entered the southwest quarter of section 12. Mr. Thompson spent the remainder of his hfe in the township, but Mr. Moore sold his property and removed to Vinton county.

David Knowles, about 1S13, settled in the eastern part of section 19. William Clark, a Virginian, about 1816, entered and settled upon the southwest quarter of section 10. About the same time, Joseph Cheney, from Maryland, settled upon the southeast quarter of section 22. About 1S14, Joshua Lemart, from Fauquier county, Virginia, settled upon the northeast quarter of section 12. He had lived for a .short time previous in Washington township. He died in Muskingum county. Adam Gault, from Pennsylvania, came in about

Eli Seward moved with his family in the fall of 1815 from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, to the Cass section, in the northern jiart of Muskingum county, remained there a year, and in February, 1817, settled upon a quarter section in the western part of this township. In the spring of 181G his brother, Ebonezer Seward, James

George Lynch, a Pennsylvanian, moved about 1810 to the northwest quarter of section 19. He erected a blacksmith shop here and divided his attention between the shop and field. Years after he removed to Hardin county. Spencer Lake emigrated about the same time from Fauquier county, Virginia, and remained a farmer of this township the rest of his life. William Henderson, a blacksmith and afterward a dealer in stock, came about 1816 from Belmont county. About 1817 Samuel Perkins, from Pennsylvania, entered the tract upon which West Carlisle is now situated. Augustine White came in 1818 from Virginia. Alexander Graham, also from Pennsylvania, came to the township in 1819 ; he died in July, 1844. About this time John Rine, a Marylander, who had served in the war of 1812, moved in.

The tax duplicate for 1821 shows the following additional names as resident property-holders. As land did not become taxable till after it had been entered five years, some, if not all, of these settlers were probably here as early as 1816: George Crawford, the southeast quarter of section 23, and east half of section 21; Francis Crawford', the northeast quarter of section 24; Richard Goodwin, the north part of the southe.ast quarter of section 5; John McNabb, the northwest quarter of section 2; John Perdew, the northeast quarter of section 1; Kimble Rakestraw, a Virginian, thenorthwest quarter of section 17; John Robinson, also a Virginian, the southeast quarter of section 15; Jesse Rine, brother to John Rine, from Frederick county, Maryland, the south part of the southeast quarter of section 5; Asa B. Snyder, the northeast quarter of section 9; William Wright, from Virginia, a local surveyor, and by trade a wheel-wright, the northeast quarter of section 22.

The onlj' vestige of Indian habitation which existed when the early settlers came to the township, was a rickety shanty, which stood near the mouth of Winding Fork, and was known as Slab Camp. It was a three-sided little hut, one end being entirely open, and about ten by twelve feet in size. It was frequently occupied by hunc w ters, after the Indians had abandoned it, as a sleeping place, and whenever so used, a fire must be built across the open end, to prevent the entrance of wild animals.

Wild game was abundant for a number of years, and many are the bear stories which the few remaining pioneers tell of the times which are now gone forever. There is room for only one. Richard Meek, who settled early on the northwest quarter of section 22, went visiting one day with his wife, leaving Samuel, scarcely fifteen years old, and his younger sisters at home. They amused themselves during their parents' absence by springing saplings in the woods. After a while Sam thought he espied a bear behind a fallen log. He told the little girls to watch the place while he ran to the house for his father's gun. He soon returned with the weapon, which was so heavy he could scarcely carry it, and lying down on the ground, he laid the cumbersome weapon across a log, took deliberate aim, and fired. The ball sped true to the mark, and the bear fell dead. Running up to it, he drew out a butcher knife and stabbed it in old hunter fashion; then went to the stable for horses and sled, and by dint of perseverance managed to get the bear on the sled and home just as his parents returned. It was an unusually large animal, weighing more than 600 pounds.

Several small distilleries were operated in this township in early times to supply the local demand for whisky. James and George Crawford, about 1818, started one and run it for a number of years. Another one was owned by Thomas and John Crawford, of another family. Payne Clark, Samuel Hardesty and Newman Smith were also manufacturers of the article on a small scale. Joshua Leniart began the business at an early day and continued it for many years. He built a little horse-mill for the purpose of grinding his mashes, but it was soon brought into requisition by his neighbors for grinding their corn. Particularly was this so during a dry season, when the mills on the small streams must suspend operations for lack of power, and the settlers were obliged to take their grists up to Owl creek in Knox county, or down to Zanesville, where, from the throng of customers, they often had to wait several days before their wants could be attended to. Lemart's horse-mill was then kept going night and day, turning out a course grade of corn-meal which the settlers labored hard to obtain.

John Taylor built a stiw-mill on Winding Fork about 1818. In 1823, he sold it to Albert Seward - still living in Bethlehem township - who had just attained his majority. In' 1830, Mr. Seward disposed of it to James Van Winkle, and, a short time afterward, Ebenezer Seward obtained possession of it. He sold it to Mr. Pease, of Dresden, who proposed removing it further down the stream and adding a grist-mill; but he failed in business before carrying out the project, and the property reverted to Mr. Seward. He resold it to Jesse Ryan, and the mill soon after went down.

A saw-mill was built on Tomica creek, by Frederick Zellers, in 1833, and the next year a flour-mill was added. It is still in operation, known as the Gault mill. It h;is two run of buhrs, a good stone dam, and produces an excellent grade of flour.

Little is known of the early schools of the township. Like in all other pioneer settlements, they were irregularly held, meagerly attended, and very inefficient, as compared with the schools of the present day. A school-cabin was built about 1824 on the hill south of Hiram Noland's house, on the southeast quarter of section 12. William Wright was the first teacher in this building. He was a learned teacher, proficient in Latin, it is said, and a thorough mathematician. He remained in charge of the school for a number of years. Later, a school-house was built just south of West Carlisle, where Mr. Timberlick, afterward cashier of the Owl Creek bank of Mt. Vernon, taught the first elements.

There are four churches in the township ; three, a Methodist, a Presbyterian and a Lutheran, in \Ve.st Carlisle, and one about two miles south of this village, near the center of section 12. The latter is a " People's" church, or more commonly called the " Broomstick church." It is the property of no denomination, built nearly forty years ago by the people in this neighborhood, regardless of their church affinities, upon land donated by Hirani Noland. All denominations are permitted to worship here at any time which does not interfere with previous appointments, and several societies of different sects have used the building as their meeting liouse. Among them was a congregation of Christians, which at one time possessed considerable strength. Nathaniel Emery, Lewis Cheney, and many persons from a distance were members. At first preaching was conducted at Mr. Emery's barn, then transferred to the church. There have been no services now for ten years or more. The Disciples held services here for a while. Samuel Cheney was a leading member. The congregation included a large number living in Muskingum county. Rev. White was their last minister. The Presbyterians and Methodist Episcopals hold occasional services. The Methodist Protestants have regular meetings, conducted at present by Rev. William Sampson. This society was organized, about 1845, and now has about fifty members. A union Sunday-school is held here.

Of the three churches in West Carlisle, the Presbyterian is probably the oldest. It was incorporated by the legislature in 1823. The incorporators were James McKee, John L3'ons, James Gault, James Patten and William Brown. Rev. James Cunningham, of Utica, Licking county, had been preaching occasionally in the neighborhood for some time and continued to preach for the church until 1834. Rev. Jacob Wolf then served the church for about a year, and after he left Mr. Cunningham again supplied the congregation for a year or two. In 1838 and 1839 the church was supplied by Rev. Enoch Ronton and Rev. Nathaniel Conkling. Rev. J. Matthews seems to have been the first pastor, installed November 11, 1840. Until 1846 he gave it half his time and then the whole time until 1853. During his time the church building still in use was erected. In 1853 C. C. Bomberger was ordained and installe<l pastor. During the war the congregation was greatly distracted on political issues, and finally divided, Mr. Bomberger and a portion of the congregation withdrawing and putting themselves under the Presbytery of Louisville and afterwards under the care of the Presbytery of Central Ohio in connection with the- Synod of Kentucky. This congregation found a house of worship in the "People's church" two miles below the village. In the old church after several years of embarrassment, with only occasional supplies, John Foy was ordained and installed in 1870. During his pastorate the church rallied to a considerable extent and the house of worship was repaired and improved at an expense almost equal to its original cost. Mr. Foy removed in 1874 to Martinsburg and the church has since been supplied by Revs. S. Mehafley, W, D. Wallace, and W. J. Fulton and J. P. Saflbrd. In November, 1880, the two divisions of the church were harmonized and re-united under Mr. SafFord's pastorate. At its organization the number of members was twenty-four; in 1860 there were eighty-six; at present it exceeds one hundred. The first elders were Thomas McKee, James Crawford and Adam Gault. Subsequently the following have served : A. H. Lyons, Christopher Crothers, John Lyons, James McKee, Robert Crouch, William Harvey, D. D. Johnson, Lewis Bonnett, Thomas McKee, John McKee, John Graham and George JMcKee. The last three constitute the session at this time.

The Methodist Episcopal congregation at West Carlisle erected its first house of worship in 1832 or 1833. It was a frame building, and occupied the site of the present church, which was built about 1859. The date of the church organization is unknown. It was some time before the erection of the first church. Among the earlier members were William Moffat, John Fulks, James Fulks and William Henderson. Rev. Thomas Dunn was an early minister. The membership is now about sixty. Rev. A. A. McCullough is the piistor. A Sunday-school has been connected with the church for a great number of yea,rs, and is in excellent working condition. The school is held through the whole year.

The Evangelical Lutheran church was organized about 1835. The first minister was Jacob Seidle. Rev. S. Kammerer had previously held services in the neighborhood. The leading early members were Henry Billman, Henry Divan, George Sossaman, Henry Keifer and Solomon

Exline. The present frame church was built a few years ago, at a cost of about $1,200. The former building Wivs smaller, and built soon after the church was organized. The church had a large following at fir.st, but when the Winding Fork church was organized many members withdrew to unite with it, and the church was left comparatively weak. By removals the membership has become still smaller, and is now quite limited. Rev. John Booker is the pastor.

West Carli-sle, the only village in the township, lies a half mile from the northern line, near the center of section 2. It is one of the oldest villages in the county, having been laid out in August, 1817. The proprietors were John Perkins and John McNabb. Perkins owned the southwest quarter of section 2, and McNabb the northwest quarter of the same section. The town was laid out on the line between the two quarter sections. The village was probably named by Perkins, who is said to have been from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in honor of his old home. The original plat included thirty-four lots, but during the same year, 1S17, each of the proprietors made a small addition to the town. Further additions were made in 1831, by William Henderson, William Brown and Harmon Anderson.

The leading character in the early history of West Carlisle was William Brown. He was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and spent his youth in the service of a merchant in St. Clairsville. He came to West Carlisle about 1822, with a small stock of goods, and soon after formed a partner.-^hip with a gentleman in Zanosville, and greatly increased his stock. He remained a resident of the village until 1S40, and during this time was closely identified with its best interests. His parents were from Germany, spelling the name Braun. Hi.s wife was Scotch-Irish. By the combination of the virtues of the two races, the Browns won for themselves great consideration in their neighborhood, and, though starting in their wedded life with very httle, amassed quite a respectable fortune. Mr. Brown was for many years a justice of the peace and postmaster, under Monroe, J. Q. Adams, Jackson and Van Buren, although he was a very decided Adams and Clay man. He was an excellent horseman, and skilled in the use of the rifle, and these things helped him greatly in the state of society found in his day in the region of West Carlisle. In public movements and proper sports he was never lacking, and was often recognized as a leader, and made the object of a good deal of 'backwoods homage,' and yet with all his activity in business and interest in the social life of the people, Mr. Brown is represented as having been a very earnest and faithful man in his religious duties. Family worship was on no excuse intermitted ; the Sabbath was sacredly regarded ; and when, as before and after a connnunion in the church, there was preaching, the store was shut, although he loved business, and avowed his intention to give himself steadily to it, and to make money for his family. His house was the minister's hold, and he was one of the most active members of the Presbyterian church from its organization, contributing largely of his means to it. In 1840, he removed to Logansport, Indiana, and there died, March 4, 1859. One of the sons. William L. Brown, acting brigadier general of the Indiana infantry, was killed at the second battle of Bull Run. Three sons, J. C, Hugh A., and Frederick T., became Presbyterian ministers.

Mr. Brown's was the first store. William Henderson was the first blacksmith. In 1833, there were two churches, three stores, one tavern, one physician, one tjinnery, two black.smith shops. two cabinet-makers, two hatters, one wagon, maker, one carpenter, two shoemaker and two tailor shops. The population then was 107. In 1880, it was 1.54.

A directory of the village, for 1881, would reveal the following : Dry goods, L. F. Cheney and J. W. Almack; grocery, L. P. White; wagon shop, M. Baird & Son; saddlery, A. T. Pine; two blacksmith shops, two shoe shops and one cabinet shop; carriage manufacturer, G. W. Cooper. This establishment gives employment to seven or eight workmen, and annually builds a large number of carriages and spring wagons. Drs. William Smith and James Edward are the resident physicians.

A Baptist church was built in the village about 1845. William and John Dunlap, William Wright and Robert Cochran were leading members. Rev. Waldron was the first minister.

The society grew rapidly for a few years and as rapidly declined. About 1850, the building wa.s sold to William McFarland, who, with othersconverted it into an academy, under the management, at first, of Mr. Gilbert. It was afterward purchased by the school board and is still used as a village school-house. It contains two rooms, both of which are occupied.